Things a foreigner dislikes about living in Toronto, Canada – pvtistes.net

I moved from the UK to Toronto, Canada six months ago. There is so much I love about my working holiday in Toronto, including the opportunities for North American road trips, and 24/7 access to any cuisine imaginable. But nowhere is perfect, and there’s a lot about my new life I struggle with. In no particular order, here’s a list of things I wish I’d been more prepared for about living in Toronto.

1. Tim Horton’s no longer being good

There, I said it. When I first visited Toronto in 2018, I remember enjoying Tim Horton’s just like everyone else. Now, no matter how popular and cheap it is, I refuse to buy it. The quality seems to have gone downhill, and I’d much rather try an independent coffee shop instead.

2. Saying “sorry” for everything

You may have heard of the reputation Canadians have for saying sorry. As a Brit, we share the same habit; I have definitely apologised to a chair for falling over it before. However, there is a nuance to British apologising that ranges from sincerity to sarcasm. Even I was confused by the Canadian way of over-apologising strictly as a form of politeness, where it’s rude if you don’t do it back.

You’ll apologise to the waiter for wanting the bill, as if asking to give them your money could be burdensome. When the train lurches and sends everyone flying, you will hear a chorus of “sorry” echoing through the carriage, despite nobody being at fault for the collision. Sometimes, you get stuck in an infinite “sorry” loop, where you each say sorry, then sorry for saying sorry, and so on.

3. Weed everywhere

England has not legalised cannabis yet, so I’m not used to walking around and getting a second-hand high from the smell in the air. It’s equally shocking to see the sheer amount of weed stores in Canada—sometimes you’ll have three or four on the same block!

4. Networking conversations

My social interactions in Toronto force me to put my “business” head on. Instead of seeking friendship, strangers will meet to network and find opportunities for growth. People want to share professional ideas or connections, rather than simply spending time together for the sake of socialising.

The general culture in Toronto (and much of North America) celebrates a goal-oriented mindset, rather than living in the moment. Once upon a time that would have suited me; I always had a five-year plan and a spreadsheet to match. The gift I’ve gained from multiple working holidays, however, was learning to be spontaneous, a mindset that not everyone can relate to over here.

5. Chaos at Toronto Pearson Airport

As an avid traveller, I have transited through many airports in my time, and Toronto’s airport is one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had in recent years. First, it was incredibly confusing working out where to go to activate my work permit; I almost missed the building! Second, the bags are always so delayed coming off the plane, I get heart palpitations every time, thinking my case has been lost. Third, the time it takes to walk between gates at the terminal, then shuttle between terminals, and then the train downtown all takes almost as long as you spend on a domestic flight in the first place. I’ve taken to road tripping wherever possible, just so I can avoid flying out of Toronto.

6. Limited options for accessible culture

Canada certainly delivers in nature, wildlife and outdoor adventures; it’s one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever been to. However, one thing Canada (and especially Toronto as a big city) is missing is accessible culture. European culture can be experienced by everyone. In Canada, you have to make the effort to travel to the old town of Quebec City to see beautiful and historic architecture. In Europe, it’s all around you.

In my home life, I live near London, where people can visit the main museums for free. In contrast, Toronto charges a fortune for their (much smaller) museums. London is home to the West End and most shows start at the equivalent of CA$30. In Toronto, tickets are closer to CA$300 than CA$30. Many Torontonians find it more affordable to fly to another city (often in Europe) to attend the theatre or a concert. It’s crazy that an international weekend away is the cheaper alternative!

7. Every activity costs money

Continuing on from my last point, people really weren’t joking about the cost of living when they talk about how expensive Toronto is. In other big cities I’ve spent time in, like London, Melbourne or New York, you can always find some sort of live entertainment on… for free! In Toronto, events like night markets, street festivals, light shows, pop-up exhibitions, etc. all come with an entry fee and/or minimum spend. The average person in Toronto is being priced out of the arts and entertainment.

8. The crowds

On the off-chance an event will be running that is affordable for me to go to, I have to bail because of the crowds! Toronto’s size and population can be fun, but not when the infrastructure can’t support big crowds attending a downtown event.

Toronto could learn from other places by running events over a longer period instead of for only one day/night, forcing everyone to travel at the same time. I couldn’t help but compare the recent Nuit Blanche to Vivid Sydney in Australia. It’s the same concept of a light trail and art installations, but Vivid runs for several weeks, making it more enjoyable and much safer in terms of spreading out the crowds.

9. Hibernating for winter

Before moving to Canada, I presumed everyone would stay active over winter, since they’re used to cold weather and snow for the majority of the year. I know other cities have plenty of winter activities available (ice skating in Montreal or skiing in Whistler, for example), but I was surprised to find most Torontonians choose to hibernate instead.

We’re still technically in fall but the cold weather is already beginning. With that, I have noticed an immediate decrease in my social life, as people start to decline events or outdoor activities, preferring to stay cosy at home. Seasonal depression is accepted as a given living here; it will be interesting to see how I’m able to fend it off in a city that isn’t designed for an outdoorsy lifestyle year-round.

10. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

I complained about this when I first arrived and I’ll go to my grave complaining about the inefficiencies of the TTC. Constant delays, trackworks, replacement buses, sitting in traffic, only having two proper subway lines… I could go on!

It may be one of “the best public transport systems in North America” but that only further highlights the problem. Most places in North America are too reliant on cars (which are unaffordable) and don’t provide reliable alternative options for getting around.